How to write reflectively?
Reflection can be used not only to support individual's learning but also when contextualisation and explanation of experiences is needed. Writing a blog or micro-blogging are the most useful among many other methods. In e-portfolio you can use short texts (labels, comments), record audio files, take photos or make films. No matter which form you chose to apply reflection needs to be repeated, has a structure, enables browsing through the history and enables presentation.
Academic writing usually prohibits the use of personal pronoun “I”. However, in reflective writing it is absolutely crucial to focus on yourself and on what you think. Using phrases such as “in my opinion”, “it seems to me” or “I think that” makes us automatically switch perspective, identify ourselves with the given concept, and refer it to our own experiences.
I. WHAT?
1. Pick an event or an experience (for example, your participation in exercises, meeting someone interesting, a recent class or lecture, presentation which you have prepared, etc.) that concerns you. Think why is it important to you. Try to answer the question: what significant event happened that I need too reflect on?
My presentation during a meeting - presentation and 10 minutes for presenting a product.
2. Prepare a short description, which will allow you to pinpoint an event in a certain context. Try to avoid interpretation or personal comments and focus on describing the situation. It is important that the description of the situation does not dominate the whole entry but is rather an introduction that would aid the understanding of the event in its context. It should be an introduction to the proper reflection which will allow to share the meanings and observations
II. SO WHAT?
3. Interpret. Now you have to think about the interpretation of those events. Provide different explanations; don’t focus on only one possibility. What do you think about it? What are your feelings about it? Are they positive or negative? Did a similar event occur earlier, are there any issues or information which could show this event in a different light? Is there someone (somebody’s ideas, actions) who is in some way important for this activity? It is important to describe why something was important, boring, difficult, or interesting for you.. You might also want to take into consideration the point of view of the reader. Will he or she be able to follow your reasoning and understand why something was interesting, boring, difficult, or interesting for you. Maybe you would want to evaluate yourself, criticise or explain your behaviour. Write about your emotions, evaluate and analyse.
III. AND WHAT NOW?
4. Plan. What impact did it have for your future actions? Would you like to change something? If yes, what? What are the possible consequences of such a change? Could your presentation have taken a different course if it had been set out in a different context? Is the reader able to understand your consecutive steps and see your plan?
Good or bad?
Reflection is a personal relation so it is difficult to precisely define what “right” or “wrong” reflection is.
Try to avoid
Reflection can be used not only to support individual's learning but also when contextualisation and explanation of experiences is needed. Writing a blog or micro-blogging are the most useful among many other methods. In e-portfolio you can use short texts (labels, comments), record audio files, take photos or make films. No matter which form you chose to apply reflection needs to be repeated, has a structure, enables browsing through the history and enables presentation.
- Reflection makes it easier to give context and meaning to the artifact. One artifact can reflect various experinece and skills and thus reflection is to give a personal account, a history and process.
- Reflection gives you time to think about what and why you did/ didn't and draw conclusions for yourself and your future actions.
Academic writing usually prohibits the use of personal pronoun “I”. However, in reflective writing it is absolutely crucial to focus on yourself and on what you think. Using phrases such as “in my opinion”, “it seems to me” or “I think that” makes us automatically switch perspective, identify ourselves with the given concept, and refer it to our own experiences.
I. WHAT?
1. Pick an event or an experience (for example, your participation in exercises, meeting someone interesting, a recent class or lecture, presentation which you have prepared, etc.) that concerns you. Think why is it important to you. Try to answer the question: what significant event happened that I need too reflect on?
My presentation during a meeting - presentation and 10 minutes for presenting a product.
2. Prepare a short description, which will allow you to pinpoint an event in a certain context. Try to avoid interpretation or personal comments and focus on describing the situation. It is important that the description of the situation does not dominate the whole entry but is rather an introduction that would aid the understanding of the event in its context. It should be an introduction to the proper reflection which will allow to share the meanings and observations
On Friday morning I gave a presentation about introducing a new product on the market. I had to design the packaging and prepare a couple of colour versions. I prepared the presentation and visualisations on printouts. I was confident that the room was equipped with a data projector. However, we started with a 15-minute delay and I had to find appropriate equipment in the Advertisements department and then connect it. I distributed the printouts and I started my presentation. Out of five presented options none received clearly positive feedback. I also haven’t received any clear advice on how to improve.
3. Interpret. Now you have to think about the interpretation of those events. Provide different explanations; don’t focus on only one possibility. What do you think about it? What are your feelings about it? Are they positive or negative? Did a similar event occur earlier, are there any issues or information which could show this event in a different light? Is there someone (somebody’s ideas, actions) who is in some way important for this activity? It is important to describe why something was important, boring, difficult, or interesting for you.. You might also want to take into consideration the point of view of the reader. Will he or she be able to follow your reasoning and understand why something was interesting, boring, difficult, or interesting for you. Maybe you would want to evaluate yourself, criticise or explain your behaviour. Write about your emotions, evaluate and analyse.
I was very nervous in this situation. It was my first presentation in front of this team. The beginning is usually very difficult for me; before I get into the rhythm, I focus on masking my nervousness. On top of that there was this issue with the data projector and blurry printouts. I was feeling really stupid and uncomfortable running around the room with cables and papers. I showed additional slides and was attacked by questions and allegations related to the projects and their potential implementation. But it’s not me who is responsible for the implementation. I couldn’t reply to those allegations, and it made me very nervous. I didn’t know the final agreements, I felt lost and insecure and the atmosphere in the room was becoming even more tense. I felt that I had no support. Actually, nobody was paying any attention to my projects but everyone was rather focusing on the problems with their implementation. It made me really angry, and I just wanted that someone appreciated my work, the choice of colours, and the pretty fonts, instead of criticising me. I was very upset, and to stop the tears I was just sat behind the table and listened to the comments.
III. AND WHAT NOW?
4. Plan. What impact did it have for your future actions? Would you like to change something? If yes, what? What are the possible consequences of such a change? Could your presentation have taken a different course if it had been set out in a different context? Is the reader able to understand your consecutive steps and see your plan?
It is difficult for me to hold back my emotions because nobody enjoys complete criticism. Therefore I will have to better prepare myself for those sorts of meetings in the future. I didn’t know that it is so difficult because I didn’t realise that I would have to discuss my projects in such detail. I need to meet with the person responsible for implementing the projects to find out more about the materials and the process of implementation. The most important part is to take over control over the meeting and don’t let the criticism get to you. I wasn’t ready to counter the allegations and I think that I haven’t spent enough time to analyse other factors. Actually, designing is not only about pictures on the slides but also about foreseeing what will happen with the project in the implementation phase. I think that my work was good but I just couldn’t defend it.
Reflection is a personal relation so it is difficult to precisely define what “right” or “wrong” reflection is.
Try to avoid
- providing only information, instructions, facts or arguments
- just describing the event
- providing just a simple conclusion, judgment or summary without providing other points of view
- giving an easy solution to a problem, criticising other people without consideration
Ostatnia modyfikacja: czwartek, 3 styczeń 2013, 07:11
